TESTING INTEGRATED SENSORS FOR COOPERATIVE REMOTE MONITORING

The Modular Integrated Monitoring System (MINIS) program, with Sandia National Laboratory (SNL) as the lead lab, was devised to furnish sensors and integrated multi-sensor systems for cooperative remote monitoring. The Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), via the Center for Integrated Monitoring and Control (CIMC), provides realistic field tests of the sensors and sensorintegration approach for the MIMS, and for other similar programs. This has two important goals: It helps insure that these systems are truly ready for use, and provides a platform so they can be demonstrated for potential users. A remote monitoring test/demonstration has been initiated at the Idaho Chemical Processing plant (ICPP) to track the movement of spent nuclear fuel from one storage location to another, using a straddle carrier and shielded cask combination. Radiation monitors, motion sensors, videocameras, and other devices from several U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) labs and commercial vendors were linked on the network. Currently, project personnel are collecting “raw” data from this large array of sensors, without trying to program any special network activities or other responses. These data will be used to determine which devices can actually provide useful information for a cooperative monitoring situation, versus those that may be redundant.